GAINESVILLE — Guard Denzel Aberdeen is returning to the Florida Gators after he spent a season at rival Kentucky, he announced on Instagram Friday.
Aberdeen transferred after the 2025 national title season for a high-dollor NIL deal even though he was positioned for a starting role with the reigning champions. The surprising move was unpopular with the fan base and typified the pursuit of a payday all too common in the portal era.
The 6-foot-5, 195-pound Orlando native has played four seasons in college, but seeks an NCAA waiver because he appeared in just 12 games for 41 minutes as a true freshman in 2022-23 — coach Todd Golden’s first season in Gainesville.
Aberdeen was a key reserve for Golden’s title team. He averaged 7.7 points and 19.8 minutes while providing a tenacious defense to supplement the steller backcourt of Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin and Will Richard.
Aberdeen delivered in key moments during Florida’s postseason run.
During the Gators’ 65-63 win against Houston in the title game, his defense helped spearhead a 12-point second-half comeback. A driving layup by Aberdeen spurred an 8-0 run with the Cougars leading 45-34.
A Dr. Phillips standout and 2021 Class 7A state champion, Aberdeen was unable to establish a role in his first college season while former high school teammate Riley Kugel became a star. Kugel, though, would struggle as a sophomore and transfer to Mississippi State, and then to UCF — where he averaged 14.4 points last season.
Aberdeen flashed as a sophomore until he finally broke out during the 2024 SEC Tournament. He came off the bench to score a career-high 20 points and record four steals as Florida erased an 18-point deficit to beat Texas A&M 95-90 during the semifinals.
Aberdeen’s patience paid off as the Gators won a school-record 36 games and the school’s third national championship during his junior season. Unable to agree on NIL compensation after the season, he soon left for Kentucky, the Gators’ longtime SEC rival.
He averaged 13.5 points, 3.4 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 30.6 minutes for the Wildcats, while shooting 43.3% from the field — 36.3% from 3-point range. During Kentucky’s 22-14 season, he lost three times to the Gators.
He recorded 19 points and four assists during a 92-83 loss Feb. 15 in Gainesville, had 15 points, five rebounds and four assists as Kentucky lost at home 84-77 on March 7 and tallied 17 points, five rebounds and three assists during the Gators’ 71-63 win March 13 in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals.
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com